<i^ 



FUR 



FUR. 



BY 

A. L. BELDEIV 




THE WERNER COMPANY, Publishers 
AKRON, OHIO, U. S. A. 

1004 






Two Gocies Receivwi • 
SEP 27 1904 
Oooyrtjfht Envry / 

S <^ XXo. No. 



/ Jbopy B 



Copyright, 1904, 

BY 

THE WERNER COMPANY 




FUR.. 

FUR is the term generally and quite indiscriminately used to 
designate the hirsute growth covering almost completely the 
bodies of many species of animals, embracing a majority of the 
otherwise diverse quadrupeds dwelling in comparative peace, 
l)y stealth, or by strenuous endeavor in forests, vales, or marshes; 
upon isles of the sea and ranges of eternal snow ; and through- 
out the more or less densely settled tracts and wild wastes of 
temperate and frigid zones. But this definition, or comprehen- 
sion, of fur is incorrect, whether it is considered as a study in 
natural history, or from a commercial standpoint, as 
this growth upon the skins of animals is distinctly Differences 
dual in character, consisting of both liair and fur. between 
Hair has a smooth surface, is round, tubular or hoi- fur and 

low nearly throughout its length, rather brittle when hair. 

quite dry ; and generally remarkably hard. It 
varies considerably in development, ranging in length from 
about one-half inch or less upon certain canines, to six or eight 
inches upon some monkeys, goats, and the Polar bear. It is ob- 
served in sundry colors, noticeably red, brown, yellow, deep 
black and pure white, as well as in combinations of all these. 
Fur has a serrated surface, which gives it its peculiar felting 
properties. It is soft, pliant, moderate in length, and is devel- 
oped in much greater abundance than hair, usually covering the 
skin so densely as to seemingly preclude the possibility of an- 
other tiny fur rootlet finding space in which feebly to flourish. 
Fur is black, snowy white, brown, and bluish or smoky in hue. 
While the quantity, and quality and color of the coats of ani- 
mals are undoubtedly affected to a marked degree by heat and 
cold, it cannot be truly asserted that their natural coloring is 
absolutely determined by, or dependent upon, climatic condi- 
tions, notwithstanding the generally entertained contrary opin- 
ion. The coats of a terrier and a common cat will be respectively 
all short hair, or a dense growth of soft fur, in association with 
an overgrowth of hair, though both animals are reared in a 
house kept constantly warm in excess of the reasonable re- 
quirements of the human occupants. The harp seal, l)orn on the 
ice on the coast of Labrador, and the horse, and musk ox, native 

— 33 — 



of Greenland, are hairy ; while the fox and otter, having their 
habitat in the flowery fields and swamps of Florida, are furry. 
Nature determined the animal's general physical conditions in 
the beginning, and nature's laws, having been established in 
wisdom, are manifestly destined to abide. Some animals, in- 
cluding the horse, ox, lion, camel, and members of the deer 
family, have coats exclusively of hair. The covering on the skin 
of the mole is practically all fur. But nearly all the huml)le 
creatures designated as .fur-bearers have coats consisting of 
both hair and fur developed in varying proportions, the fur largely 
predominating. Fur so densely covers the skins of some speci- 
mens, particularly the fur seal, beaver, muskrat, nutria, otter 
and coney, that the hairs may all be plucked — an operation per- 
formed to enhance the beauty and commercial value of the fur — 
without effecting the slightest perceptible diminution in Ihe 
quantity of the animal's natural covering. It may be assuiiu'd, 
as a theory not heretofore advanced, that the longer hairs inter- 
spersed through the fur serve as a screen or shield whereby the 
shorter fur is protected against the "wear and tear" of brush 
and brier, rock or rubbish through which the creatures pursue 
their way or prowl in quest of prey. It is a fact, for instance, 
observed by trappers and furriers, that the hairs upon the slioul- 
ders of the mink are often badly broken and rubbed off in the 
spring of the year ; at which time the animal in its quest for 
food, which is not then abundant, penetrates every discoverable 
muskrat burrow or other likely rift in the ground, many of 
which are so small that the creature experiences considerable 
difficulty in effecting an entrance. Minks' skins showing this 
injury are rated at a lower price than they would otherwise com- 
mand. Fur serves the animal as a protective garment, not be- 
cause it supplies warmth, but undoubtedly on 
Suscepti- account of the fact that, being a very poor conductor 
bility of fur of heat, it retains in the body of the living creature 
animals to practically all the vital heat developed, and which 
cold ; the suffices for the perfect comfort of the animal during 
Russian the severely cold days and nights of an extended 
sable. winter. Even animals, including those as large as 

the bear, which hibernate during the months of pre- 
vailing low temperatures, seemingly experience no real or great 
discomfort on account of cold. For the same reason, that fur is 
a very indifferent conductor of heat, furry creatures endure in 
comparative indifference the ardent warmth of the summer 
months, the heat penetrating to their bodies very slowly if at all. 
The view may reasonably be advanced that fur-bearers, particu- 
larly those most fully furred, are never painfully conscious either 
of external heat or cold, and that the temperature of their bodies 

— 34 — 



is approximately uniform under all climatic conditions. It is 
true that the fur seal appears to "suffer from the heat" when 
the thermometer indicates a temperature above fifty-five degrees 
Fahrenheit, under which condition the animal manifests its 
sense of oppression by lying on its back or side and fanning it- 
self with its flippers. It may be questioned, however, whether 
the effect is not more particulary due to humidity than to heat, 
the rookeries (literally rockeries), upon which the seals lie at the 
time being enveloped in fog, that is, a dense steamy mist, pre- 
venting natural radiation. This sensitiveness to heat mani- 
fested by the seal may be due to the facts that its fur is rather 
short, and its diet exceedingly rich, the latter consisting wholly 
of oily fish. It should also be noted that the fur seal cannot en- 
dure a low temperature, and does not frequent places where 
freezing occurs during cold weather ; consequently in not a sin- 
gle instance has the animal been observed to go upon ice. It 
has already been noted that the skins of many animals are al- 
most completely covered with hair or fur. The animal to which 
this statement most strictly applies is the Russian sable, a small 
animal inhabiting the forests of Siberia where snow falls to a 
great depth and rivers are frozen solid. The Russian sable is a 
furry creature, being fur-clad, indeed, even to the soles of its 
feet. As the animal in its travels through the forest in quest of 
food treads almost constantly upon snow or ice during the long 
Siberian winter, the fur upon the soles of its tiny paws prevents 
the radiation of vital heat and proves protective against external 
cold at the points where protection is most effective. This 
diminutive piece of fur on the paws of the sable not only serves 
its natural owner well, but is held in high esteem by those who 
know and appreciate the excellence of real sable fur. These lit- 
tle patches of fur are carefully removed by furriers ; and, after 
they have been properly treated, are made into linings for costly 
garments ; the fur from fifteen hundred to two thousand sable 
paws being required to make a single lining. Other animals 
show small portions of the body devoid of hair or fur ; instances 
being the horny hoofs of the horse, the more horn-like hoofs and 
bare nose-tips of cattle and members of the deer family ; the 
leathery tails of the beaver and muskrat ; the tail and nose of 
the 'possum ; the flippers of seals ; the toes and a consideralile 
part of the feet, especially the soles, of all hair-habited and fur- 
bearing animals. 

Pelt is a term properly employed to designate the entire skin 
with all the fur just as it is taken from the body of the animal, 
either immediately following its removal or at any 
subsequent time, so long as the skin as a whole re- Pelt, etc. 
mains in a natural state. The term has long since 
passed from common usage in the fur trade, and at present it is 

_^35 — 



rarely heard where furriers meet and miugle, though it has not 
ceased to serve its time-honoured purpose in some trapping 
sections inchiding the vast territory of Canada under the modi- 
fied sway of the Hudson's Bay Company. The term "pelt" is, 
however, in general use among sheep raisers and Iniyers of the 
skins of these animals ; the terms uniformly employed on the 
range and in the market, whether expressed orally or in writing, 
being " sheep pelt," "sheep pelts" or simply "pelts." Com- 
mon usage rules in many spheres, and "fur" is not merely a 
suggestive but is clearly a descriptive term, even to those not 
specifically informed or naturally trained in the particular 
branch of trade to which the article is confined ; whereas the 
term "pelt" is vague to the general mind, and is viewed as 
rather antiquated by those directly concerned in the trade. 
"Sheep pelt" readily conveys a comprehensive impression 
of a great mass of wool; but really constitutes, in its entirety, 
the warm coat of a sheep. "Sheep-skins" merely conjures 
mental conceptions of drum-heads, and the like; or recalls the 
objective point of the dreams and struggles of student days 
fraught (metaphorically) with a large measure of "wool gather- 
ing," resulting, in many instances, in a meagre "clip" of the 
wool itself ! But to speak of " lamb-skin " l)y any other name 
would excite more than passing wonder. Horse-hide or cow- 
hide may be fully comprehended without added explanation; 
but any other form than "colt-skin" and "calf-skin" would 
be startling and of doubtful import. 

It is of record, free from controverting doubts, that fur consti- 
tuted not merely the primitive but the primal apparel conserving 
the requirements and comforts of the race, meeting in this re- 
gard the needs of the first human denizens of earth 
as they passed from the Garden of Eden, their orig- primitive 
inal realm of abounding peace and plenty, into per- use of fur; 
])etual exile. The "Fall of IMan" from his first as a cover- 
glorious estate causing the instant discovery of his in?- lu-xury, 
utter lack of attire, impressed upon him a sense of ^"" deco- 
shame that imperiled his ethical peace, and brought 
upon him not only the condemnation hut also the 
compassion of a gracious Creator, who made "coats of skins" 
and clothed the offender. It may be assumed that those primal 
"coats of skins," though wrought in knowledge, were designed 
to pieet the exigencies of the wearers rather than to excite their 
vanity — a simple fact that exalts into bold relief the extreme 
change of view regarding the purposes of dress attained by the 
daughters of Eve and the sons of Adam in the subsequent cen- 
turies. From the beginning of human time, so far as man 
knows or can know of such a beginning, down through the ages 
intervening between it and the flood, Adam and Eve and their 

— 36 — 



descendants seem to have been satisfied and contented with rai- 
ment solely serving certain primitive needs; the fashion thereof 
neither making nor marring their peace of mind nor impairing 
their social rank. But dating from the era succeeding the flood, 
men and women have been increasingly concerned about the 
form, fit and finish of their attire. While men apparently have 
been chiefly content upon acquiring possession of a little brief- 
authority, they, not less than the daughters of Eve, have lavished 
a large share of their attention upon their appareling, whether 
limited to the partial covering constituting barbaric dress, or 
embracing the frills and freaks of fashion accumulating in obedi- 
ence to the active and competitive spirit of emulation. Succes- 
sive generations, regardless of toil and cost, have wrought into 
the clothing of the race every leaf, grass, fibre and other vege- 
table as well as animal and even mineral substance suitable for 
such purpose, and for decorating the same. The mineral, vege- 
table and animal kingdoms have yielded, to man's necessities or 
artistic sense, materials readily found or toilsomely won in his 
journeyings through field, vale and forest; brook, river and 
ocean, as well as the "trackless" air or deep dug mine. From 
these silks of superb weaves and exquisitely delicate colourings, 
velvets deeply soft and smooth, satins rich, lustrous and many 
hued, laces alluringly charming in design, gold in marvelous 
ductility, gems aglow with the dazzle of the sun, and countless 
materials capable of being wrought into majestic or simple de- 
signs; all have been alternately in vogue, waxed and waned, 
reigned and suffered eclipse; but fur has constantly held its ex- 
alted sway in favor as well as service. Fur, as an exclusive article 
of court dress, was the " peculiar treasure " of kings and nobles, 
being reserved to them by legal enactments; and even at the 
present time the supply of the finest sables, black and silver foxes 
and sea otters never exceeds the demands of crowns and courts 
and aristocracies. To possess the liest in fur is the boast of 
Royalty, noliility and of the master of millions. In many in- 
stances there has been cheerfully paid for a single garment of 
sable, black or silver "fox, an amount exceeding what might l)e 
expended for "clothes " by an ordinary mortal during a lifetime. 
Fur of lower cost, of every price from pennies to pounds per 
skin, has continuously served as clothing, protective and deco- 
rative, for men or women. Savages employed it as of real value 
in their meagre wardrobes, or for making their couches, tents, 
boats, shields, and numerous articles of minor importance. Bar- 
barian and hunter have ever delighted to wear single skins of the 
leopard, wolf and smaller animals, usually pendant from the 
shoulders down the back, to augment the fierce aspect of the 
wearer or serve as a visible sign of valour or prowess. The skin 
thus worn doubtless served as the model for the picturesque 

— 37 — 



domino of satin, velvet and other costly stuffs so much worn 
years ago by courtiers and men of worth in England, France, 
Spain and other lands. Badgers' skins, and rams' skins dyed 
red, formed an essential part of the covering of the Tabernacle 
constructed in the wilderness by the Hebrews. Fur, which con- 
stituted both the raiment and distinguishing badge of honour 
among ancient, barbaric races, has uniformly been employed as 
a constituent part of coronation robes as well as of the crown 
itself. It has been appropriated for the mantles indicative of 
rank, worn by princes, princesses and courtiers upon state occa- 
sions; for the flowing robes of great dignitaries of the Romish, 
Greek and English churches in early and modern times; for the 
robes of office of judges in the higher courts, governors of rich 
provinces and commonwealths, and chiefs of petty states and 
stately cities. Incidental to the adoption of emblems and sym- 
bols in connection with rank, fur has had a large and rather im- 
pressive place in heraldry. The fighting men of countless tribes, 
feudal states and nations, from the beginning of wars to these 
piping times of peace, have necessarily been clad wholly or in 
part in fur. Certain English and French soldiers, members of 
the Old Guard of the American Metropolis, leaders of regimental 
bands and members of some military companies, have found and 
continue to experience great satisfaction in wearing their busbys. 
The drum-major if compelled to choose, would undoubtedly rather 
dispense with his baton than his busby, even on a hot day ; with- 
out the former he could still go through the necessary motions 
with his supple arms; whereas the loss of his busby would prove 
a sore deprivation, affecting his dignity. The busby, that towering 
head-gear of glossy black fur, is supposed invarialily to be made 
of black bear skin. But in seasons when black bear skins have 
been scarce, or when a strong fashionable demand has effected a 
marked increase in its price, dyed goat-skin has served as a fair 
substitute. Fur has formed an apprecialde part of the loot 
gathered by western armies when victorious over eastern foes in 
whose countries large supplies of fine furs and fur garments have 
been preserved in treasure houses. The opportunity for securing 
priceless skins has often proved irresistible to officers as well as 
privates who are seldom averse to possessing themselves of such 
"riches." The necessity of supplying expeditionary forces, into 
regions where temperature is liable to l)ecome much reduced, with 
the proper fur garments has become a matter of experience. The 
intense cold prevailing on very high mountains could not be endured 
by travellers, hunters, or inhabitants clad in any other material. 
Pioneers pressing to a frontier, discoverers seeking the poles, ex- 
plorers traversing regions beyond the borders of civilization, 
lumber-men in the vast snow-shrouded forests of the north ; trav- 
ellers, teamsters, toilers and wanderers in every region ruled by 

— 38 — 



the frost king, all know or learn, that varments, robes and sleep- 
ing bags of fur are essential to comfort, sustained health, and 
even the preservation of life. In barbaric times, and in days not 
remote from the present, the trappings of champing steeds and the 
adornments of their riders were of fur, ranging in artistic con- 
ception and effect through all grades of design and appropriate- 
ness. In these latter days it may be noted as evidencing the 
persistence of custom that a blanket or robe of fur is still provided 
for the thoroughbred ; and that its driver, the coachman of per- 
sons of high degree, revels in the possession of a cape of special 
design, as well as great gloves, foot-muff, and lap-robe, all of 
fur. This fidelity to habit and favor for fur extends into all later 
developments of luxury. Through all the changing conditions 
of man's environment, from savagery upward, fur has held in- 
terested attention and merited universal appreciation. It has 
been accorded a place in literature and art; in the realms of 
fashion, in the palace, court, salon, mansion and cottage. In 
brief it is coincident with man. It is, therefore, not remarkable 
that it should have been an article of barter in earliest times. 
The date at which trade and barter in fur began is not known, 
but it is reasonable to suppose that, owing to its almost universal 
employment as a material of clothing, and to the fact that prim- 
itive man was born to the chase, it should have been one of the 
first objects of barter and trade. When early man grew weary 
of being his own tailor, hatter, and sandal maker — and that was 
long before he thought deeply or thought at all — barter began, 
and trading was instituted. Fur has been the imperishable lure 
of the pioneer in all ages. The advance from bar- 
barism to civilization has been along the well beaten Barter de- 
trail of the plain and forest, and in the courageous velops into 
track of the fur-hunter, the hardy trapper and the great trade 
brawny pioneer fur-trader. Individual traders in concerns, 
continuous succession have conducted their opera- 
tions in previously discovered and originally explored fields the 
world around, as the centuries have run their course. From time 
to time great concerns with large resources have sought to mo- 
nopolize the trade in skins by buying up, or compet- 
ing out of existence, all rivals, great and small. Hudson's 
But independent trappers and small traders still jjay coin- 
flourish. One of the first of these influential and pany, 

financially potent concerns was the Hudson's Bay American 
Company, which was granted a charter by Charles F^^" Com- 
II, in 1670, impowering it exclusively to trade and pa"y. etc. 
barter with the aborigijies over a territory of vast 
extent in North America, embracing the wild woodlands and open 
country of Canada, including the wonderful inland ocean, 
Hudson's Bay. Prince Kupert was the first head of this strong 

— 39 — 



company, and other men of rank participated and have continued 
to participate in the direction of its affairs as well as the enjoy- 
ment of its products. 

The Northwest Fur Company, organized at Montreal, Canada, 
in 1783, entered directly into competition with the older firm for 
the supremacy of the trade. The efforts made to obtain this 
purpose evidenced a clearly entertained determination to rule the 
entire trappins^ and hunting territory, and so to control the fur 
market. All customary and legitimate methods of obtaining 
skins from the Indians and white hunters were vigorously em- 
ployed, and when these failed promptly to produce the desired 
harvest, recourse was had to measures inconsistent with honour 
and stability, culminating in active warfare between the trap- 
pers, hunters and other partisans and employees of the two com- 
panies. This state of affairs continued for some time, finally 
resulting in the complete downfall of the younger concern. This 
record is typical of all institutions of barter and trade, preced- 
ing the conception of law or abiding under the restraints of law. 
The condition is not inherent in trade and barter, but is due to 
the chief and unchanging factor in both, human nature. The 
Hudson's Bay Company has survived all changes and chances, 
as well as the opposition of men and inanimate things, from the 
date of its charter to the present day. But it has been shorn of 
the autocratic powers it originally enjoyed. The trade in furs 
conducted by the Company continues to be lucrative. 

.Tohn Jacob Astor, born in Wattendorf, Germany, in 1763, 
came to America just twenty-one years later, and almost imme- 
diately after landing at New York, entered upon what proved to 
be a notable career in the fur business. Possessing only mod- 
erate means, he began in a modest way, dealing at first mainly 
with Mohawk Indians from whom he olitained considerable sup- 
plies of valuable skins, which he disposed of at large profits. He 
was remarkably successful, and being exceedingly provident, ac- 
cumulated a fortune. In 1809, he established the American Fur 
Company, with a capital of one million dollars — a more potential 
sum then, than at the beginning of the succeeding century. The 
American Fur Company entered the field in abounding confidence 
of successfully competing with the Hudson's Bay Company. In 
the earnest desire to obtain this end, men and provisions were 
hurried forward over land and sea to the Pacific Coast, to 
establish headquarters and trilnitary posts at various places for 
the collection of fur in extraordinary quantities. The scheme 
included the building of a fort on the Columbia River. For a 
time fair progress was reported but during the War of 1812 the 
British captured the fort, and the enterprise ended in disaster. 
Mr. Astor subsequently built up a lucrative export and import 
liusiness in American and Chinese goods, fur, teas, silk and other 

— 40 — 



urticles; he also realized a gratifyins; return on his realty invest- 
ments in New York. Fur, however, was the foundation ot the 
A^stor success. 

Alaska, including the mainland and adjacent island, was pur- 
chased by the United States from Russia in 1867. The United 
States thereby became ruler over the most important and valuable 
fur-seal rookeries in the world. In 1870, the Alaska 
Other com- Commercial Company of San Francisco secured from 
panies. the government a twenty-year lease conferring upon 

the Company the exclusive privilege of taking fur- 
seal skins on the islands of St. Paul and St. George, Bering Sea, 
comprisinc' the two principal rookeries frequented by the seals. 
By the terms of this lease, the Alaska Commercial Company was 
required to pay a fixed annual rental, a tax on each skin taken, 
to provide the natives with a limited quantity of fuel and to pay 
a definite amount for killing and skinning each seal. Ihe total 
cost to the Company was about .«3.90 per skin. As the lessees 
were permitted to take 100,000 seal skins annually the contract was 
a profitable one, netting the Company more than a million dollars 
each year. The Alaska Commercial Company also maintained 
stations at the various places on the mainland, at which provi- 
sions and merchandise were exchanged for furs, w'th probably 
more than an ordinary profit on both sides of the account. In 
addition to these sources of fur supplies, the Alaska Commercial 
Company stationed agents at certain points to purchase sea-otter 
skins from the Indian hunters. 

Fur in the natural state, that is, just as it appears when re- 
moved from the body of the animal (if no preparation other than 
stretchino- is fdven it, or, in some specimens, the removal ot ex- 
" clrssive fat to prevent tainting), is designated as 
^ ,.,. raw. Skins of animals are used in a multiplicity of 

^f°f,rr ns" conditions in the development of full-proportioned 
prepared garments, cloaks, wraps, capes, and sundry smaller 
for the articles of general utility and novelty. Ihe condi- 

trade. tions known to the trade are: Natund, or in the 

state of nature ; improved only by dressing, a cleans- 
incr operation similar in effect to tanning. Plucked in which 
the operation consists in removing practically all the long harsh 
hairs leaving only the shorter fur on the skin. t,heared, 
where the fur undergoes a process by which the hairs are cut oft 
evenly down to the upper surface of the fur, leaving a smooth, 
velvety pile of uniform depth. Half-sheared, m which the fur 
has been subjected to an operation in the course of which the 
hairs are cut off evenly but not down to the fur. Unltaired in 
which the fur of plucked and dressed skins, especially seal, bea- 
ver otter and coney, undergo a mechanical manipulation, result- 
ing in the very nearly perfect removal of all the hairs from the 



il 



fur, the hair being cut off close to the skin, leaving the remain- 
ing fur clear, and materially enhanced in intrinsic value; or, in 
instances, the hairs, instead of being cut are burned off with an 
electrically heated wire — coney skins, dyed in imitation of fur 
seal, being treated in this way, and known as "electric seal." 
Blended, certain skins showing variation in the tone of the fur 
but otherwise of a fine grade, are subjected to skillful treatment 
with liquid preparations until the fur on the entire skin is har- 
monious in color, or "blended." Dyed, a treatment made 
necessary by the demands of fashion; fur of different varieties 
being popular one season in a natural condition, and a year later 
saleable only when dyed; seal being the only fur among the 
many which would not at any time prove popular made up in 
a natural condition. Point<-d, where the fur undergoes a man- 
ual operation consisting of tlie simple act of permanently plac- 
ing single white hairs — badger hair lieingthe best — at intervals 
in the fur of certain skins ; these white hairs or points, scattered 
over the entire skin, were formerly seweJ in place, but latterly are 
attached to the fur with water-proof rubber cement. In pointing, 
the operator dips the end of a single hair in the cement ; and, 
blowing the fur apart, inserts the hair in the desired position, 
fastening it by a twirling of the thumb and forefinger. Point- 
ing is not a regular practice, skins being treated in this way 
only occasionally to simulate those of much higher cost, particu- 
larly silver fox and sea-otter. In instances the tips of white 
feathers have been used instead of white hairs, producing a 
snow-flecked and unnatural appearance. 

Animals valued on account of their fur are secured by shoot 
ing and trapping, the latter method prevailing, as the skins 
of animals that have been shot are invariably 
damaged, thereby, to a greater or less extent. How 

Bears are shot and trapped, the shooting being done secured 

by amateur sportsmen and impatient trappers. The and sent 
skunk is regularly taken in traps but is frequently "-o market, 
traced to its burrow underground from which it is dug 
out and promptly killed by a sharp blow or two administered 
with a club. Siberian squirrels and sables are trapped, and are 
also shot with l)lunt arrows. All other fur-bearing animals 
when regularly secured for their fur, are taken in traj)S, with the 
exception of the fur seal which, at the rookeries, is driven in- 
land about three miles to the " killing grounds," and there de- 
spatched ; a single blow on the head with a stout club sufficing 
to cause almost instant death. Pelagic sealers capture their 
prey by shooting and spearing. The beaver is considerately ac- 
corded protection under the game laws of nearly all the States 
and Canada, killing being prohibited at all times, or during a 
definite portion of the year ; fines, ranging up to .flOO, being 

— 42 — 



imposed for each violation of the law. In many of the States 
and Territories there is a "close season" for several species of 
fur-bearing animals. The skunk is especially well protected in 
the counties of New York State in which hops are grown in 
quantities. The animal is very fond of the hop-worm, a crea- 
ture which, if unopposed, affects great damage in hop-yards, kill- 
ing the vines by eating through the vine and cutting it off near 
the root. Nature, however, is the best protector of her furry 
children. Instead of protecting certain animals, chiefly the fox 
and wolf, the State or county encourages their destruction by 
paying a bounty on each one killed. The purpose sought, the 
extinction of these creatures, is not affected, foxes being always 
common, North, South, East and West ; and wolves abounding 
in certain sections of the country. 

All fur-bearing animals freely shed their fur, and show more 
or less marked variations in colouring, during the spring and 
summer months, under which condition fur has no commercial 
value. The fur-bearing animals being nocturnal in their habits, 
traps are set at night. On completing the round of his traps in 
the morning, the trapper carries home the bodies of the animals 
comprising his "catch," and promptly proceeds to remove the 
skins and stretch them so that they may be in good form when 
dried. The work of stretching is performed by drawing the 
skins, fur-side in, over rather long pieces of board, terminating 
in a rounded point at one end, of the proper shape and size, and 
fastening the skin at the butt, to the board so that it will not 
shrink lengthwise as it dries. Green hickory withes, bent round 
nearly doubly, are sometimes used instead of boards. They cost 
nothing and serve the desired purpose very well, particularly for 
skins, such as muskrat, worth only a few cents each. Skins are 
also stretched to dry by being nailed flat, skin-side out, upon 
boards, barn doors, and other convenient places. Skins are 
classed "cased," or " open, " according to the method of stretch- 
ing that is employed. Skins stretched on boards or withes are 
" cased," those nailed out fiat are " open." Skins of the beaver, 
raccoon, and large creatures like the bear are sent to the market 

— 43 — 



open ; all other skins, jfcjierally or quite uniformly, cased. The 
skin of the fur seal is open, but instead of being stretched and 
dried it is heavily salted as soon as removed from the body of 
the animal. For purposes of shipment from the islands, raw 
seal skins, still "in the salt," are folded together and tied three 
in a bundle, and are then packed in casks. Trappers ship the 
skins secured by them to the market in small lots, receiving in 
return from the buyers a statement showing assortment and 
value, together with a check for the full amount ; or they hold 
the skins in their liarns or cellars until local collectors or buyers 
from the great markets of New York, St. I^ouis, St. Paul and 
Chicago, call, on their regular purchasing tours. Dealing in 
raw furs is a distinct branch of the fur trade, and large liuyers 
and exporters keenly compete for every great or little lot of skins 
offered in the market or reserved in remote inland villages, at 
the beginning of each raw fur season. A few raw furs are sold 
direct to manufacturers, and some moderate sized lots are origi- 
nally forwarded to Leipzig, Germany. The great bulk of the 
annual collection from all over the world, except Greenland and 
Iceland, is sent direct to London to be offered at auction to at- 
tending interested l)uyers from all parts of Europe, Asia and 
America. This statement embraces the entire yearly collection 
of the great Hudson's Bay Company, skins secured by hunters 
and trappers in every nook and corner of the United States, and 
all fur seal skins whether procured by the American or Russian 
companies, or the Canadian and Japanese pelagic sealer. The 
Hudson's Bay Company leads with two annual public sales, the 
first in January at which beaver and muskrat skins are offered ; 
the second in March with a miscellaneous collection. Messrs. 
C. M. Lampson & Co., London, hold annually large public sales 
in January, March, June and October, with the im- 
portant collections of American, European, Asiatic;' Method of 
African and Australasian furs and skins ; and a annual 

sale in December of each year at which fur seal sales, 

skins exclusively are offered. 

A more comprehensive view of these sales, and of the fur 
market generally, may be obtained from a study of the offerings, 
which vary from year to year, the variation being due to the de- 
mands of fashion, rather than an actual increase or decrease, as 
the figures may show, in the existing number of the several 
species of animals. 

— 44 — 



L.ofG. 



Hudson's Bay Company's Collections. 



Beaver . . 

Muskiat. 

Otter . . . 

Marten. . 

Lynx . . 

Mink. . . 

Fisher. . . 

Skunk.. . 

Fox .... 

Badger, . 

Wolver- 
ine . . . . 

Raccoon . 

Bear 

Wolf 

Rabbit... 

Hair 
Seals . . 

Deer and 
Elk.... 



1S04 1S14 1S24 i8;,4 1S44 1854 1864 1S74 



32.405 
16,153 
3-897 
17,182 
1,090 
678 
762 



3.109 



35S 

890 

560 

3.252 

9,8^6 



17.818 77,309 
138.770 306,890 



3.947 

23,106 

167 

1,064 

551 



10,528 
61,216 
6,456 
5,92s 
1,688 



2,353 3,309 



99.362 
694,090 
22,303 
64,491 
14.250, 
25,101 
2,479 



9.938 



505 
9.105 



320 



631 1 

5' 
2,183 

727 
830 1 



1.570 

712 

7.451 

8,483 



38,661 

265,117 

6,970 



62,914 

319.444 

11.385 



71.954,127,019 



10,358 
24,855 
4,503 



11,104 
1,387 

1,079 

1.763 

5.700 

13,204 



4,906 
49,373 

4,04s 

11,318 

16,002 

900 

1,065 

1,051 

9,612 

13,829 

91.316 

2,404 

460 



118,120 

367.300 

12,605 

115.430 

4,760 
■63,725 

4.715 

2,o6l 

17,670 
1,562 

1,211 
2,384 
7,348 
5,427 
5.051 

15.145 
3,200 



59" 
942 
766 
733 
045 
810 
271 



3.113 

7,163 

2,564 

60,520 

6,125 
6,999 



Offerings by Messrs. C. M. Lampson & Co. 
and at minor sales. 





1.803 


1813 


1S23 


1833 


1843 


1S53 


1863 


1873 


Beaver. . 


93.198 


70,000 


10,015 


17.871 


12.022 


3-211 


■ 
9.192 


63,781 


Otter . . . 


17,000 


7.500 


3-095 


5.645 


7,500 


3,208 


7-359 


8,037 


Marten . 


32,000 


600 


26,254 


53.685 


37,963 


15,421 


21,650 


30,704 


Mink . . . 


1.2,000 


200 


24-150 


93.216 


iiS,S6o 


193,000 


83.647 


51,509 


Lyn.x . . . 


14,000 


4,000 


3.945 


16,940 


5,077 


728 


3.241 


2,441 


Raccoon 


150,000 




79.390 


362,287 


392,471 


So7,o6o 


475,637 


458,932 


Fox 


10,000 


i.Soo 


18.071 


69,730 


67,162 


68,023 


62,626 


90,726 


Fisher. . 


7.085 


2,300 


3,474 


6,215 


4,993 


3-584 


2,996 


3,351 


Bear . . 


23,000 


7,000 


4,063 


20,38s 


5,205 


2,291 


v76o 


6,198 


Wolver- 


















ine. . . . 


1,400 


800 


32 


138 








132 


Wolf... 


5,600 


5.200 


31 


2,400 


2,000 






2,208 


Muskrat 


76,300 


68,000 


41.025 


97,4661229,295 


1,266.810 


1,893,89s 


2,171.265 


Wildcat 


. 








3,220 


5.427 


5,354 


7,895 










— 4.5 ■ 





1803 


1813 


1823 


1833 


1843 


1853 


1863 


1873 


Skunk 














92,279 


261.542 
5,095 
20,563 

250,464 


Sea Otter. . . 






















88,456 




48,072 
14.334 


37,786 
89,579 


American 








House Cat 












Deer 

Australian 


204,000 


37,000 


47,865 


159,000 


120,772 


38,641 


20,509 


313.343 


















Wallaby 












1 




African 












17,68832,806 
9,71427,896 


23439 
170,678 




























The skins chiefly entering into consumption for purposes of 
dress in the more civilized countries are: 

Badger. — Variable in colour, ranging from white to deep 
shades of brown, with some black and many long white hairs; 
used in making collars, muffs, trimmings, and novelties; the white 
hairs are employed in "pointing" vehen fur so treated is in 
vogue. 

Bear. — A number of species find great favor for their fur, of 
which the black bear is the mo.st important, being preferred in 
making capes, collars, stoles, muffs, cloak trimmings, sleigh and 
carriage robes, floor rugs, military headwear, and for other pur- 
poses; cinnamon bear, used at times in the productions of stoles, 
muffs, sundry novelties and floor rugs; grizzly bear, fashionable 
at times for trimmed garments, or for neckwear and mounted 
rugs; Polar bear, chiefly desirable for making floor rugs, with 
half or full mounted head. 

Beaver. — An exceptionally durable and handsome fur, being 
practically indestructible when made up natural or only plucked, 
suitable for the production of every article that can be made of 
fur. It is used natural, plucked, and dyed; and is the best fur 
for the manufacture of men's and ladies' felt hats; but, owing to 
the limited quantity and high cost it is not largely used for that 
purpose. 

Caracal. — One of the members of the lynx family; has black 
ears, to which fact its Turkish name is due; the general colour 
is pale brown (being lightest on the under portion of the body), 
tinged with red, and showing many dark spots; made up dyed 
black, in neckwear and small articles; the supply is not large. 



4B- 



Cat. — The domestic animal; colours Mack, blue, white, yellow, 
and every imasiuable combination ; used quite largely for linings 
of coats and to some extent for children's sets; selected black 
skins may be used natural, and rank highest in price on that ac- 
count; but they make a cheap or low cost fur; skins of mixed 
colour are dyed. 

Cat. — The wild animal; similar in colour to the lynx, varying 
from white to brown; it is dyed and used in making collars, 
scarfs, stoles, trimmings, and a few small articles. 

Chinchilla.— An exceedingly soft, light-weight, delicate fur 
obtained in South America; exquisite stoles, capes, muffs, and 
borders for silk and cloth garments are made of it; it is partic- 
ularly suited to young ladies (blondes and heiresses). 

Coney. — A low cost fur dift'ereing greatly in value, the skin of 
the wild coney in America is worth about one cent; or, at 
most, twice that amount, and is of chief value as a felting fur for 
the manufacture of men's hats; the white coney, found in num- 
bers in some parts of Europe, is also of small intrinsic value, and 
is used for lining coats of low cost; it is sometimes dyed in imi- 
tation of squirrel for the puropose named ; makes a fair imitation 
of swansdown powder puff, and is largely used in covering small 
animal toys. The French coney, common upon every little farm 
and property in the Republic, is of superior mould, but is never- 
theless a coney. This fur is plucked, dyed and unhaired; and it 
so closely simulates seal in appearance that only the furrier 
knows the diiference ; it is quite generally sold as "electric 
.seal," " near-seal," " China-seal," and by names of a few more 
seals wholly unknown to naturalists. 

Cougar. — Also known as puma, American lion, mountain lion, 
and more generally panther; not beautiful or serviceable but its 
skin is effective as a floor rug or a mounted specimen. 

Ermine. — The winter coat of a weasel; its "color" ranges 
from clear white to a yellowish tinge ; used in the creation of 
royal and judicial robes, opera wraps, capes, stoles, scarfs, muffs, 
and borders ; the tip of the tail of the ermine is "black and this 
black tip is inserted in the fur mainly to relieve the monotony 
of the white ground of the fur when made up. 

Fox. — Occurs in all colours, red, yellow, blue, gr.ay, silver- 
gray, pure black, pure white, and a combination of all these; 
the silver fox fur, which is black relieved with single white hairs, 
outranks all other fur in value, a single skin at a public sale in 
London bringing .1?2, 500; \yhile it would be a poor skin indeed, 
that would bring in the raw less than $100; single skins are made 
up for neckwear and the fur is also used for lining garments 
owned by royalty and the nobility. Skins dyed in various col- 
ours, black and rich brown, have been popular for some years 
past, a single skin with pendent tails serving as a small stole; 

— 47 — 



fox is also used for muffs, collars and trimmings, and small floor 
mats with or without mounted heads. 

Genett. — Obtained in Europe and South Africa; colours, <;ray 
with markings in yellow; used dyed in making sets, collar and 
muff, stoles, and as a trimming. 

Goaf. — The skin is more hair than fur; produced in China in 
large supply; dyed black it is used in making cheap sets and a 
few small articles; is an important article in the manufacture of 
men's coats for service in the lumber regions and the northwest. 
It is also used largely in making sleigh and carriage rugs and 
floor rugs; natural colours are dark gray, brownish gray and 
white. 

Hamster. — Variable in colour, showing white, yellow, brown 
and dashes of black; used mainly for low cost linings. 

Kangaroo. — A lining fur, also serviceable as a novelty; chiefly 
used in Europe. 

Lynx. — Variable in colour, brownish, light to dark, or spotted 
with deeper brown or black; it is a soft fluft'y fur of considerable 
utility when dyed black; used as neckwear, in sets, and trim- 
mings; also dyed blue in imitation of blue fox. 

Marmot. — A small fur in brownish and grayish effect, used as 
a lining for coats and wraps. 

Marten. — One of the handsomest of the rather fluffy furs, and 
excellent for all fur-wear except articles certain to be subjected 
to rough usage. 

Mini:. — The American fur of quality, great durability and ex- 
treme beauty; it is made up natural exclusively and with proper 
care will last a lifetime; it is used in various forms — for coats, 
jackets, capes, neckwear in every style, cloak and dress trim- 
mings, mutt's, and high class head wear; good mink is costly but 
not dear. 

Mole. — Blueish-gray, soft, short fur; it is a very small skin, 
useful for wraps, neckwear, and small articles. 

Miiskrat. — A low cost fur of considerable utility, being serv- 
iceable as a lining in all designs, for caps, gloves, muffs, and 
trimmings; it is made up natural, unhaired and dyed in imita- 
tion of seal, in which form it is sold under some of the names 
bestowed on coney similarly treated. 

Nutria. — Has long ranked as a valuable fur, as when plucked 
or made up natural or dyed it closely resembles beaver; the fur 
is soft and the leather is strong, making a combination essential 
to durability; the skins are received exclusively from Central 
America. 

Opossum. — American opossum; is a low priced fur; made up 
natural or dyed to imitate other furs; it is used for sets, collars, 
cuffs, trimmings and children's furs. 

— 48 — 



Australian Opossum.— Is a grayish-brown fur, which may be 
used in making large collars, sets and linings. 

Otter.- Sea otter is one of the choicest furs, and, like silver 
fox, commands a price which only the wealthy can pay; a skin of 
laro-e size in silvery effect, and perfect in fur-condition, is worth, 
approximately, .12,000; the supply is small, and mainly required 
by the nobility; sea otter makes a grand overcoat collar and tac- 
iiitr, or full lining, and a muff that reveals its own worth. 

*0«er.— Land otter is an exceptionally soft, durable fur, 
whether used natural or dyed and haired ; it may be used for all 
the purposes for which seal and beaver are adapted and is 
sometimes sold as seal, but not by honourable furriers. 

Raccoon.— A very desirable fur for men's coats, for common 
wear in the colder sections of the country, for making carriage 
and sleigh robes, and for sets to a limited extent, neckwear and 

Sable.— A set of Russian sable furs, or sable garment — and 
sweet contentment. 

Seal.— Vor years the lady possessing a seal sacque has known 
the greatest measure of satisfaction attainable by human nature; 
capes, scarfs, stoles, muffs, trimmings, capes and overcoat lin- 
ings are all approved if done in seal. 

Skunh.—A good all-round American fur; black, glossy, tlutty, 

and agreeably comfortable; made up as a collar, stole, cape or muff. 

Squirrel.— This fur is from Siberia, about two million skins 

being secured annually; it is used for neckwear, cloak linings and 

children's sets; always made up natural though it may be dye^. 

TFai/afiy.— The fur of a small kangaroo; used largely in Ku- 
rope and elsewhere as a lining. _ . ^- i e 

Wolf.—VS&ed to some extent in the production ot articles ot 
feminine attire, but more especially for robes and rugs. 

Wombat.— Gray dashed with black, rather long but somewhat 
harsh fur, very desirable for making coats at moderate cost. 
Wolverine.— A long fur, used for making collars, stoles and 

iam6— Lambskins especially sundry diminutive specimens found 
largely in Asia though not/iir, as the name plainly indicates, are of 
large commercial interest "to furriers, and are constantly employed in 
the production of garments, headwear and robes; and are erroneously 
classed as furry by the public. These lambs embrace the following: 

Persian, or Persian>ier.—\ superb article held in universal esteem 
and regard by many as superior to seal, and more to be desired than 
any of the fine furs, sable alone excepted; all Persian is curly, but the 
so-called fur varies In this respect, being in instances closely or tightly 
curled, and in other specimens rather open In curl; the former being 
more valuable; a jacket of selected curly Persian, commands a good 
price, is appropriate for either maiden or matron and has no rival for 

— 40 — 



mourulng wear, as it Is always dyed black; otlier articles of ajiparel in 
Persian include capes, stoles, small and large collars, muffs, trim- 
ming for cloth garments and dresses, and collars and cuffs for men's 
coats. Broad-tailed lamb ranks Persian in beauty and market value, 
and is adapted to the same purposes. Asti'ddian lamb is curly, flat 
and moire, according to the tightness and character of the curl, it is 
similar to Persian, and used in the production of the same articles. 
Kritntner. a lamb-skin seemingly the counterpart of Persian, is, how- 
ever, made up in the natural, its colour being gray; at times it is 
popular in the form of misses' and children's jackets, capes, collars, 
sets, and headwear. The curly lamb-skins are also used to finish 
winter gloves. Other lambs, more or less largely used in the fur trade 
are chiefly, Thibet, Mongolian, and Moufflon. 

(roat. — Angora, producing a skin with very long silky fleece, and 
kid-skins with fleece of moderate length, are important in the trade 
affording skilled fur-sewers large employment at satisfactory wages in 
the production of coat linings, baby-carriage robes, and fancy trifles. 

Aineririni Hina/i. — Coniiiionly known as the buffalo, was formerly an 
animal of consiilcralile imiioitaiice. Us hiile lieing an article of general 
utility throughout the length and breadth of tlie United States and 
Canada, with the exception of extreme southern sections. The buf- 
falo, though not a fur-bearing animal, has a coat resembling fur in 
appearance, and somewhat like wool in texture, and yet unlike either; 
the skin, when tanned is strong and durable, and the hide, considered 
as a whole makes one of the most serviceable sleigh or carriage robes 
ever produced. Through the seventies the term ••buffalo-robe" was 
literally a household word in cities, towns and hamlets, and on nearly 
every farm North, East, and West, the article designated, being com- 
mended to universal favor by its many good <iualities; it was equally 
protective during a cold snap or a rainy day, not only met the original 
purpose, but served as an exceptionally warm bed covering in many 
country homes, and withal was cheap, its price ranging from two dol- 
lars to five dollars per robe, according to size and condition. 

Between the years 1870 and 1880, the steady and seemingly limitless 
demand for buffalo robes led to the rapid and wanton slaughter of the 
prairie monarchs, roaming in countless numbers over the vast west- 
ern plains of the United States, and upwards of one hundred and fifty 
thousand robes were Ijrought into the market annually, with the re- 
sult of so nearly exterminating the animal that hunting ceased alto- 
gether. A single buffabi hide made a robe. Originally the robes 
were purchased by collectors at frontier or Indian trading posts, the 
collections consisting of small lots, as the Indian hunters never per- 
mitted their love of gain to I'un to the extreme of the white man. The 
early robes were •'Indian dressed "; the leather, skin side, being soft 
and white, and more or less profusely ornamented with crudely drawn 
figures of the ht)rse, buffalo, wigwams and hunting scenes done in red 
and blue and yellow pigments. When the collection increased, and 

— 50 — 



thousands of animals were killed in a day the hides were •• whiteman 
dressed." and the robe was lined with felt or plush. 

Monkey .— Tim skin of one specie of African monkey having a mod- 
erately dense growth of long glossy hair, but absolutely no fur, is a 
special article wrought into rather handsome capes, collars, muffs, and 
trimmings; and is from time to lime extremely fashionable. 

Tiger.— T\zft and leopard skins are occasionally used for making 
novelties but are chiefly valued as floor rugs. 

Fur of every grade may have its term of service materially ex- 
tended by careful treatment. If, while being worn, it is carelessly 
crushed against the backs of chairs, car seats, and every object of 
possible contact; and, when taken off by the wearer, is 
thoughtlessly thrown upon any convenient chair or Treatment 
dresser or hung up any where and any how, it will of fur gar- 
quickly show the marks of such improper usage. It nients when 
will become broken, lustreless, flattened, and more or '" "^^• 

less worn off in spots. A cloak, cape, or other fur 
should, on removal be shaken, and then lightly brushed the wrong 
iray of the fur with the hand to lighten up the fur. It should then be 
hung up (on a coat-hanger) where it cannot press against other gar- 
- ments. Fur that has been wet, either in a rain or snow-storm, should 
be hung in a cool place to dry. It should never be dried by artificial 
heat. Undue confidence is placed in camphor-balls, cedar-chips and 
other odorous substances, and dark closets, for protection against 
moths. Perfect protection in this regard may be secured by cold 
storage, particularly in plants of this kind making a specialty of fur 
storage, as the article placed therein is examined, dusted, and hung 
in the cold room by experts in such matters. Fur is not only protected 
against moths, but Is decidedly improved in appearance by being sub- 
jected for a considerable time (the usual cold storage period) to a 
steady low temperature, as it resumes its natural position on the skin, 
and regains its natural lustre. The next best method is first to 
thoroughly examine the fur to make sure that it Is free of moths, and 
then suspend it in a sound linen bag tightly tied at the mouth. The 
linportant part of this method is the preliminary examination to avoid 
the presence of a single moth in the bag with the fur. 

The steady increase in population and progress of civilization over 
the earth, whereby the waste places are being transformed into cul- 
tivated areas, villages and towns, miglit lead the causual observer to 
suppose that the day cannot be very remote when the last fur-bearer 
will join the great majority, and fur will be no more. Contrary to 
this limited view the opinion, amounting to conviction, is entertained 
that men and women, as in the days of yore, will ever be habited in 
fur. It is a reasonable view. The statistics here given do not indicate 
any marked decrease in supply. The records show that a fur that has 
for a number of years been brought into the market in limited quan- 
tity because not specially wanted, has suddenly, in a single trapping 

— 51 — 



season, been brought forward In very large supply In response to the 
demands of fashion, with a consequent Increase in price. Many fur- 
bearing animals, noticeably skunk, mink, muskrat, raccoon, opossum 
and fox, seem to thrive in fairly close proximity to man. Other 
species will find ample breathing room in wild spaces for centuries to 
come. Fur was the first clothing, and doubtless will remain as a 
staple and ornamental, necessary and luxurious raiment of the race. 
It is associated with the individual at the threshold of his existence, 
in the baby-carriage robe of downy white fur, and it abides to the mo- 
ment when in the form of the rug of black, purple, white, gold or 
silver-gray fur, it is spread beneath the funeral casket of correspond- 
ing hue. A. L. BELDEN. 
August, lOOi. 



52 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

liiiillPiiillil 

018 371 012 6 • 



